The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grapple \Grap"ple\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Grappled; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Grappling.] [F. grappiller, OF. graypil the grapple of a
   ship, fr. graper to pluck, prop., to seize, clutch; of German
   origin. See Grape.]
   1. To seize; to lay fast hold of; to attack at close
      quarters: as, to grapple an antagonist.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To fasten, as with a grapple; to fix; to join
      indissolubly.
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            The gallies were grappled to the Centurion.
                                                  --Hakluyt.
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            Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
                                                  --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Grappling \Grap"pling\, n.
   1. A laying fast ho1d of; also, that by which anything is
      seized and held, a grapnel.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A grapple; a struggle. A match for yards in fight, in
      grappling for the bear. --Dryden.
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   Grappling iron, a hooked iron used for grappling and
      holding fast a vessel or other object.

   Grappling tongs, broad-mouthed tongs for gathering oysters.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

grappling
    n 1: the act of engaging in close hand-to-hand combat; "they had
         a fierce wrestle"; "we watched his grappling and wrestling
         with the bully" [syn: wrestle, wrestling, grapple,
         grappling, hand-to-hand struggle]
    2: the sport of hand-to-hand struggle between unarmed
       contestants who try to throw each other down [syn:
       wrestling, rassling, grappling]